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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 May 1964

Vol. 209 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing of Agricultural Workers.

39.

asked the Minister for Local Government if an agricultural employee with a family, who resides in a tied house where tenancy terminates with employment and who is an applicant for a local authority house, is regarded as being in need for the purposes of the Labourers Acts; or if such an employee must be evicted before he is deemed to be in need of housing accommodation.

It is a matter for each housing authority to decide whether or not an applicant is in need of rehousing. Agricultural workers who are in need of rehousing although not at present living in unfit or overcrowded dwellings may be rehoused by a local authority provided there is no failure on the part of the local authority to discharge its statutory responsibility in catering for the needs of the priority classes.

Would the Minister clarify that for me?

Certainly. It means the agricultural worker housed in the manner described in the question may be housed in a local authority house but his point on the priority list would be somewhat lower if the house he is now residing in is not overcrowded or unfit.

If the local authority is preparing a scheme of houses and one of the applicants is living in a tied house, would the Minister say whether or not that person is entitled to be included in the scheme for two-thirds subsidy purposes even though he is living in a tied house in good condition, if the tenancy terminates with his employment?

I said he may be and then it is a matter for the local authority to decide whether he will or not.

Local authorities are not very liberal in their interpretation of the advice or the direction the Minister gives them.

Do not look at me. I am no longer a member of a housing authority. I was at one time.

The Minister ought to know that. Maybe he should send a stronger circular to them on the question of who should be or who should not be included.

If a decision is taken by the county council I hope the Minister will stand over them.

I usually do.

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